September 09, 2006

Llanelli Scarlets 31 - 17 Glasgow Warriors

Celtic League match played at Stradey Park on Friday September 8th 2006 | 31 comments

Colin Shaw scored Glasgow's second tryAfter 20 minutes of the new season Glasgow fans could be forgiven for looking forward with some hope, but with two games gone it already looks like the Warriors could be the whipping boys of the Magners League.

Scarlets led 5-3 at half-time after Daniel's first try was answered by a drop-goal from Francisco Leonelli.

But the Scarlets came out running after the break as Dwayne Peel, Gavin Evans and Daniel crossed in quick succession.

Daniel then grabbed his third before late converted tries from John Barclay and Colin Shaw brought Glasgow closer.

Men against boys. We hardly got our hands on the ball throughout the entire game and to make matters worse our tackling was amateur. Kellocks missed tackle summed it up for me, if the Captain can let players brush him off so can the rest of the team.
Murray had a good game though, he showed a lot of improvement from last week and Evans was superb, again.

This report is a bit more accurate than the Herald's. Llanelli were in a different class. It is no good "winning" the last twenty minutes if you've already shipped a bucket load of points. The backs looked sterile and devoid of ideas until Hefin O'Hare came on. Thom Evans looks the part going forward but his defence and offloading is suspect. As Jonathon Davies said - its going to be a long season.

totally agree with both comments above. glasgow where totally out classed last night, as the comentry said "with two big centres there is only one type of rugby to play" and we simply do not have the forward mobility to do that, hefin ohare made a massive differnce and seemed to get alot more joy than morrison did, again it is the forwards that are letting us down though, they look knackerd and not interested. I hope this is jsut early season jutters because if its not i cant see there bein a glasgow next year.

Oh yes where are they now..."Back at Hughenden sorry Fortress Hughenden, the "real ground" for the real fans! In reality allowing for the fact it was good weather the attendence didnt really change did it. Then to be treated to a humiliating defeat and now this week a thumping one down in Wales, well....
If things dont get better then its got to be bye bye Sean and a few faces if not the Warriors as we know them.

Yes, I will be there, with the rest of the family. After nearly 60 years of supporting Scottish Rugby I have learnt to appreciate that to get the occasional highs - 2 grand slams in my life time - you have to endure a lot of heartache. A triumph of hope over experience maybe, but I'm not about to start supporting someone else or not supporting Glasgow because of a couple of defeats. AND I don't expect the players to give up either. Blood,sweat and tears this Friday guys.

Well said-I've been playing rugby in Glasgow & going to Glasgow games for 40years-not about to stop now, but that won't stop the criticism of poor underachieving performances. Despite the bad beating last week there were small signs of improvement for parts of the game. The forwards put in a bit more effort though I was disappointed with the back row & particularly with Kellock-he's been poor in both games. Time to remove Morrison-back were more adventurous & had more penetration with O'Hare. Parks has also had 2 poor games-give Gregor a start ??

Well said, you're bang on there Andrew. All those who talk like they're turning their backs on the pro-game should take a long hard look at themselves and return to the question of why they bothered going in the first place.

I agree but they are being paid to do a job and the public are being asked to pay their wages. What makes it a lot worse is that Rugby Union is largely amateur and fans by and large are not quite tuned in to having to pay money especially when the performance is awful!

Good hear the positive comments from a loyal fanbase. All we need now is for the team to concentrate hard & play some rugby...sounds simple enough! But consider this. Having averaged 1 point every mimute in the opening match, how could things go so badly wrong? Simple if you go twenty points up & then start to throw stupid passes about in front of, or worse, inside your own 22 - you get punished. The answer is even more simple, go twenty points up and, thereafter, kick the skin off the ball and put the opposition back into their 22 and make them defend. With people like Heffin, Thom & Mike in the squad we have the gas to hit tramline kicks and force their back 3 to put short kicks into touch, we get the line from our new boilerhouse boys on a catch & drive, and life should be a whole lot less frantic!

C'mon boys, don't p1ss about in your own half, we are just not that good yet, take advantage of Dan & Francisco's rocket launchers and defend the oppositions 22 line instead of our own.

The correct approach would be to continue to support Glasgow on Friday night. After all if we do not then it will make it so much easier to 'kill off' Professional Rugby in Glasgow...

That said the performance of the team over the first two games of the season has been awful - and after last season - I can understand the frustration felt by some of the Glasgow fans (and we are all Glasgow fans). It is not that the team is losing, it is the manner in which the team is losing ...

There's too many armchair experts out there - ripping the game apart and not getting off their arse to get along to Hughenden. Maybe we should take the Jimmy Sanderson approach - remember him? If you can, and don't go to games, then you're in no position to offer a valid opinion...

I find it difficult to give armchair fans a hard time whither they are expert or not. The SRU have - I believe - tried to support Glasgow this season ... however no return to Hughenden, Beer, chairleaders, mascots or whatever are going to make up for the one thing that will bring the armchair fans back to the ground ... A WINNING TEAM!

I don't think I'm giving armchair fans a hard time - it's up to them what they want with their money on a Friday night. At the same time I think we can question whether their opinion is informed or not.

Gordon you must be older than I thought you remember Jimmie Sanderson and when he berated a complaining punter with "were you at the game? and the reply came back that he wansn't because he was getting married that day--to which Jimmie would respond--does that take all day"

The thing is we are getting more fans through the gates. People were complaining about the Dragons game turnout but the Students were still away and I would put money on a lot of folk not even knowing we were back. Now that the club are finaly advertising there should be more supporters on Friday.

Yes, the manner in which we are playing is rather frustrating and even more so when you feel that the lads aren't giving their all but at the end of the day people go along to Hughenden because it is a great way to spend a Friday night, winning would just be a bonus.

Hopefully there will be more at Hughenden on Friday - 2000+ would be a good start. That would show the team that we do want professional rugby in Glasgow. As for the criticism, I seem to remember people saying that one of the great motivating factors (in days gone by) for players in clubs like Hawick and Gala was having to walk down the High Street on the Monday or Tuesday after a bad performance. Perhaps this web site can serve a similar purpose. So guys, if you're reading this, we will be there to support you but we will also be here to criticise if you don't put in the performances you are capable of.

Sorry to have upset so many people by stating that I'm not buying a season ticket but I don't know how people can criticise my support of rugby when they don't even know me! I can remember going to Glasgow games way back in the amateur days when McLaughlin, Carmichael et al were representing the district for pride and pride alone. These guys were passionate about playing for Glasgow and could never be accused of giving less than 100%. It riles me to see well paid and pampered "professionals" turning out crap performances and then hearing that they promptly go out to the various nite spots and enjoy themselves. They are professionals in name only and should realise that it is not just
about being paid. And by the way I reckon I do my bit for Scottish rugby at other levels so if I feel like withdrawing my support of the pro game then too bad!

You are totally within your rights to cancel your season ticket but it is a shame after all the time you have supported Glasgow in it's various forms to stop going. I have not been going along for anything like as long as you have but if the REALLY hardcore supporters like yourself are hanging up their golfing umbrellas and staying home then what hope is there?
If we get a crowd of 1,800 - 2,000 on Friday it would be as good a result for the club as beating Munster would be as it would show that we really have turned a corner and that is up to us to achieve.

Don't golf and don't have an umbrella so will probably content myself with helping out at club level (where some of the young lads I coach seem to be more dedicated than our so called pro players) and at age grade level, so that the next generation have a better idea of what being a professional should be. That's if the current crop don't muck it up for the future!

Behindtheposts, you seem a little bitter and twisted to me. You don't need an umbrella or need to play golf to get behind Glasgow. It is nonsense to think that the pro players don't give a stuff about playing for Glasgow or that they don't train hard and professionally. I appreciate your efforts in helping at the grassroots end of things but that shouldn't preclude you supporting the Glasgow side. Enough negativity I think.

Not bitter and twisted at all and not negative, just saying it like it is. Too many players in professional rugby think they have made it when they get a contract and don't act in a professional way. Compare this with rugby league players who on the whole conduct themselves impeccably as they appreciate that the game and its image is their livelihood. Anybody who knows the ins and outs of Glasgow rugby knows that there is a hard core of players who do not have the attitude required of pro players -fact! And I didn't start the umbrella thing so at least read the comments properly!

Glad you're not bitter and twisted but I still feel there is far too much negativity surrounding the pro game in Scotland which doesn't help anyone. I bow to your superior knowledge of Glasgow rugby and am disappointed to hear that there is a hardcore of players who are less than professional. Lets hope the younger players show more determination and dedication. Good luck to Glasgow on Friday night, Munster look stronger this week and it's going to to a tough one.